Middlefield man pleads guilty to sex assault of girl, 15

Lauren Sievert

Published 12:00 am, Wednesday, February 6, 2013

MIDDLETOWN >> A Middlefield man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl while she slept in 2011.

Jeremy Murphy, 23, 39 Levesque Road, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree burglary in Middletown Superior Court on Tuesday. All the pleas were entered under the Alford Doctrine, meaning Murphy does not agree with all the facts alleged by the prosecutor, but chose to accept the plea deal rather than risk going to trial. Attorney Jake Donovan represents Murphy.

The case was continued for a pre-sentencing report to be prepared. The proposed sentence is for 12 years, suspended after six years to serve, and five years probation. Murphy is due back in court April 16 for sentencing.

Police were called to the victim's home on Nov. 26, 2011, around 3 a.m. The mother of the victim said a man had broken into their house and tried to rape her daughter while the daughter was asleep in her bedroom. The mother told police she believed the man, later identified as Murphy, gained access through the rear sliding door.

The victim told police she had fallen asleep in her second-floor bedroom about 12:20 a.m. and woke up about 2:25 a.m. and realized someone was in her bed, with his hands down the front of her pants. She smelled coconut lotion, and later noticed the lotion was spread between her legs and in her genital area, according to police.

The victim said Murphy penetrated her genitals, and when she tried to get away from him, Murphy allegedly "wouldn't get off of her." The victim said she did not recognize the voice, but told him to get out or she would call her father. He then got out of bed and put some clothes on, the victim told police. He unlocked her bedroom door, went down the stairs and out the front door, the victim said.

The girl told police she tried to chase after him, but he was too far away. She was, however, able to give police a description of the suspect, which matched Murphy, police said.

While her mother dialed 911, the girl's father drove around the neighborhood looking for the suspect, police said. After the police arrived, the victim's father went out again looking for the suspect and later called the police and said he found a man matching his daughter's description.

The victim positively identified Murphy as her attacker and was then taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Murphy told police he had been drinking all night and passed out on the side of the road, according to police. After he was arrested, he kept asking police if he would have to register as a sex offender. Police reported smelling coconut lotion on Murphy's hands.

Murphy allegedly admitted to going to the victim's house looking for his brother. He told police the front door was unlocked and he went inside, into the victim's room and laid down next to her.

Murphy said when the victim woke up and asked who he was, he got up and left as quickly as possible, according to police. Murphy allegedly said he knew what he did was wrong, but that he was just trying to find his brother, police said.

Murphy has been held on a $500,000 bond since his arrest on Nov. 26, 2011. The victim's mother will speak at the sentencing in April, according to statements in court on Tuesday.